Fidel Castro Becomes Cuban Premier in 1959

The great revolutionist, communist and long-time leader of Cuba, started his ascent towards being leader on this day in history.

One of the longest serving leaders of a nation, and icon of communism, Fidel Castro, took the function of Cuban premier on February 16, 1959, which started his undisputed leadership, until he stepped down.

He was born in 1926 as Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruiz, as started his political uprise by criticising the regime of Fulgencio Batista, and the influence of the USA on the economy and politics of Cuba. After some time, he gathered a small but loyal group of followers, with who he attacked the military barracks in Moncada. The attack went poorly, and Castro was arrested and incarcerated. After he was released he fled to Mexico, where he organized and carried out his invasion of Cuba in 1956.

Not long after that he became the premier, then secretariat of the Cuban communist party, and in the end, in 1976, president of the state council and council of ministers. He also carried the title of commander in chief of the army.

In 2006, Fidel passed on his duties and responsibilities to his younger brother and vice-president Raul Castro. However, he was still the chief commander. Two years later, he was hit by illness and was operated on many times, so he had no other option but to announce, five days before the end of his mandate, that he will not seek or accept a new mandate as president of commander in chief of the army.

At the end of Fidel’s mandate, on February 24, 2008, the people’s council voted that his brother Raul be the president, so that power remains in the Castro family. However, Fidel did keep one of his numerous titles, he is still the chief secretary of the Cuban communist party.